Vineyards?

Northside Neighbor · PostJul 31, 2013#12013-07-31T13:57+00:00

The bible uses a vineyard image to show health and strength. Why not plant vineyards on some of the vacant lots in north city?

Neighborhood kids could be trained on how to care for the vines. An urban winery could be opened along Delmar or Washington. Low income residents of north city could be hired to work at the winery.

Wouldn't a vineyard be better than nothing? And it would create jobs for people who need them.

chaifetz10 · PostJul 31, 2013#22013-07-31T13:59+00:00

You could always create a RallySTL proposal. I'm not a horticulture expert so I don't know if the soil and climate of the city would allow for a healthy vineyard, but it could be a good use of vacant land.

Northside Neighbor · PostJul 31, 2013#32013-07-31T14:08+00:00

It would look a lot better than a weed covered lot. The weather in St. Louis isn't much different than out in St. Charles County where there are lots of vineyards. St. Louis used to have lots of farms before it was all built up.

The biggest problem would be digging up the old rubble under the ground. Or maybe you could just plant around it in old back yard areas? Ideally, there'd be some money from the city, the federal government, or some local charity to help pay for it.

There could be a lot of jobs created in preparing the site for agriculture use as well, so it could be a win on lots of levels. Maybe there would be a problem getting the city or neighbors to go along with spraying pesticides and fertilizers on the crop. Or maybe there's an organic option to cut down on poisonous materials?

Is this something one of our local universities or Monsanto might support?

chaifetz10 · PostJul 31, 2013#42013-07-31T14:17+00:00

Possibly. But I have a feeling that it would need to be started by a grassroots effort on a small scale (say from funding from RallySTL or Kickstarter) before you can really go to a major company, university, or government agency seeking money.

I don't mean to come across pessemistic of your idea, because I think it's great, but I would reach out to local organizations first. Say churches, the local alderman, and other organizations near where you're thinking. Without those residents supporting it, you can't make it sustainable.

jem79c · PostJul 31, 2013#52013-07-31T14:26+00:00

The City has a "Garden Lease Program" where you can lease vacant lots owned by the LRA for just $1 per year... By all means, use it to see your dream come true and plant some vineyards

http://stlouis-mo.gov/government/depart ... -lease.cfm

Northside Neighbor · PostJul 31, 2013#62013-07-31T14:38+00:00

Apparently urban vineyards are rare but not unprecedented:

http://www.winesandvines.com/template.c ... tent=76109

Lots of expertise and funding though needed to make this happen.

dweebe · PostJul 31, 2013#72013-07-31T15:41+00:00

Northside Neighbor wrote:The bible uses a vineyard image to show health and strength. Why not plant vineyards on some of the vacant lots in north city?

Neighborhood kids could be trained on how to care for the vines. An urban winery could be opened along Delmar or Washington. Low income residents of north city could be hired to work at the winery.

Wouldn't a vineyard be better than nothing? And it would create jobs for people who need them.

Nice idea but I just don't know if the soil around the city could support grapevines. As I understand it grapevines for wine are particular about the soil, moisture, wind and sunlight. That's why wine making areas around St. Louis are either on south-facing hillsides by rivers (Augusta, Hermann) or well established crop growing areas. (Ste Genevieve, some of the small Illinois wineries)

I say keep it simple and work on expanding urban gardens growing fresh produce. Healthy food that could stay in the city and provide better nutrition.

Just my 2 cents.

dmmonty1 · PostJul 31, 2013#82013-07-31T16:50+00:00

Maybe orchards would be a simpler alternative?

jem79c · PostJul 31, 2013#92013-07-31T16:55+00:00

^RE: Orchards:http://www.acnursery.com/acn_pricesheet.php
Just the first thing that came up on google. At $30 a tree (or less), could be an interesting kickstarter/community project.

A lot of these lots have been vacant for years/decades, so getting these trees on an essentially free lot for long enough to bear fruit isn't impossible... Now you just have to worry about maintaining the land, irrigation, fertilizing, etc etc etc

southsidepride · PostJul 31, 2013#102013-07-31T17:31+00:00

I've long been intrigued by the idea of having an urban winery that overlooked the Mississippi River.

Previously when I thought of this I envisioned South STL just north of Bellerive Park and the retirement home.

But perhaps somewhere on the north side has a similar view without the highway noise.

Since, as dweebe noted, grapevines are not be suited for the soil and topography of St. Louis city why not contract with an existing vineyard in St. Charles County. Perhaps you could also make a deal with someone who home brews beer to sell some of their wares on site as well.

You could still grow the other items consumed at a winery on a garden plot on premises. Fresh produce for snacks and to make appetizers. Maybe have a fruit and vegetable stand so folks can take stuff home with them as they leave.

Just an idea.

Northside Neighbor · PostJul 31, 2013#112013-07-31T21:47+00:00

Maybe this could somehow be done in cooperation with Soulard Market?

Vineyards?

Vineyards?

Vineyards?

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